Centrifugal compressor.



L. C. LOEWENSTEIN.

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR,

APPucATwu mu) MAY 15, ms.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Inventor: Louis C. Loewensbein,

" MK M;

being pumpe shaft on its way into the impeller.

UNITED STATES racism OFFICE.

LOUIS C. LOEWENSTEIN. OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CENTRIFU GAL COMPRIEISSOR.

Application filed Mayl5, 1916.

Be it known that 1, Louis C. Lonwnn- STEIN. a citizen of the. United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal ((n'npreSsorS, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to centrifugal compressors and has for its object to provide an improved structure for a compressor, particularly a multistage machine.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompimying specification and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a multistage compressor embodying my invention, the section being taken along the line 1-1, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a face view of the righthand end section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a fragment of the rasing taken at a point angularly removed from the section of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating how my invention may be used for a sin le stage machine.

Referring to tiie drawing, Figs. l to 5, wherein Ihave shown a two-stage compressor, 10 indicates a shaft having mounted thereon the impellers 11, each comprising the usual web member 12 .with vanes 13 on opposite sides thereof, the vanes having curved entrance edges 13. The casing comprises an admission end section 14, a discharge end section '15, and an intermediate section 16. The admission end section 14 21. 22 indicates a shaft packing arranged in an openin 23 at the center ofthe end wall. The we s 19, of which there are two, extend down close to the packing member 22, so as to dprevent the air or other gas from circulating around the The end wall-17 has formed integral therewith a curved flange 24, and the inner wall 18 has a curvedflange 25 spaced from the Specification of Letters Patent.

-30, and an inner wall 31.

atented Dec. 10, 1M8.

Serial No. 97,525.

flange :Z-l and joined to it by webs :26, Fig. This forms a continuous circumferential passage 27, except that it is divided by the webs 2a, which communicates with the admission chamber 21. 28 indicates the ad: mission conduit of the con'ipressor, it being formed as a pait oi' tlnend section H:

The discharge end section 15 comprises an outer end wall .29. an intermediate wall The intermediate wall 30 is spaced from the outer wall 29 to form a discharge chamber 32. It is connected to the outer wall 29 at the central. portion as indicated at 31-3, and also by means of suitable webs 34. There is an opening 3;: at the center to re eive the shaft packing 36. Formed integral with the end wall 29 is a curved flange 37 and the intermediate wall 30 is provided with a flange 38 connected to the flange 37 by webs 39, Fig. 4-. This forms a continuous circumferential passage 40. except that it is divided by the webs 3E). Formed integral with the intermediate wall 30 and concentric with the flange 39 is a second flange 41 to which the circumfercntial edge of the inner wall 31 fixed. The intermediate wall 30 and inner wall EH are spaced apart by webs 42 and "13. The webs 12 extend down to the packing 36. while the webs l3 terminate short thereof. The specific arrangement of webs similar to these is well shown in Fig. 3, as will be explained hereinafter. The annular space between the flanges 38 and. all is crossed by a series of partition walls 44 forming passages 45 which connect the space between the intermediate wall 30 and inner wall 31 with the annular passage 4-0. Between the walls 44 forming the passages 45 are left passages 46 extending to the dis charge chamber 32. 47 ind cates the discharg conduit which connnunicates with the discharge. chamber 48 indicates a bearing for the shaft lltit is carried by a frame 49 fixed by bolts 51) to the and easing section 15.

The intermediate section, (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) comprises an annular wall 55 to which is fixed a diaphragm 5G. The diaphra m 56 extends down to the shaft and forms t 1e diriding wall between the two stages of the machine. The diaphragm 56 is provided on the one side with two concentric flanges and 58. Between the outer flange '57 andthe wall 55 is formed an annular passage 27 in the admission end section 14.

58 and spaced from it by webs 60 and 61. a

As shown in Fig. 3, the two webs 60' extend down to the shaft for the reason al ready explained, while the webs 61 terminate short thereof. Extending across be tween the flanges 57 and 58-are suitable walls 62 which form ducts 63 connecting the space between the diaphragm 56 and the wall 59 with the assage 58'. Between the walls 62 are left tlie passages 6i which connect with a chamber 65 on the other side of the diaphragm which is formed by a wall 66 spaced from the diaphragm and joined to it by web members 67 arranged as are the other similar web members already described. The wall 66 base flange 69 which forms with the wall 55 an annular passage 70 which connects with the passage 40 In the discharge .end casin 15. At the bottom of the machine are suita le openings 71 communicating with the various chambers and through which foreign material entrapped therein maybe withdrawn. 1

When the casing sections are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, the walls 18 and 59, and 31 and 66 form between them chambers in which the impellers 11 run, and between these walls around the periphery of the impellers are -located the discharge vanes 72, which are carried by rings 73 located in up cesses in the res ctive walls. The discharge vanes 72 and t eir relation to the impeller is best shown in Fig. 4.

In operation, the fluid, (as air or gas) being com ressed or umped, enters the chamber 21 t rough in et conduit 28 and circulates entirely around the shaft. The lower web 19, located central] in the inlet conduit divides the ,incoming fluid into two separate streams. From chamber 21 part of the fluid is fed to the right-hand side of the impeller around its entire periphery. Another part of the fluid flows by way of passages 27, 58" and 63 into the chamber formed between walls 56 and 59, from which chamber it is fed to the left-hand side of the impeller. This'chamber extends entirely around the shaft so that this side of the impeller also receives fluid around its entire periphery. The fluid. discharged from this mpeller after passing through the discharge vanes 72 flows through the passages 64 (see Fig.3) intothe chamber 65, from which it is fed to the right-hand side of the second stage im-pellle r. Fluid also flows from the passages. 4 through passages 70, 40 and 45 to the chamber between walls 30 and 31 from which it is fed to the left-hand side oi the impeller, the impeller hay ing complete peripheral admission on both sides, as in the case of the impeller of the first stage. The fluid discharged from the sec- .to each side of the 'lmpe 0nd stage impeller flows by way of passages 46 to the disc arge chambers 32 from which it asses to discharge conduit 4 y the above described arrangement, 1 provide an improved structure comprising standard casing sections from which a machine having an number of stages from one up may be built. For a sin le stage machine, the two end sections 15 an 17 may be laced directly together. This is shown in i 6. When so arran ed, as will be clear rom an inspection of li lg. 1, the chamber for the impeller will be formed between the two walls 18 and 31, and circumferential passage 27 of the admission end section of the casing will communicate directly with circumferential passage 40 of the discharge end section of the casing. For a two-stage machine, as shown in Fig. 1, the two end sections and one intermediate section is required; for a three-stage machine, the two end sections and two intermediate sections are required, and for machines of more stages it is simply necessary to add more intermediate sections. I am thus enabled to use the same set of patterns for machines of any number of stages which greatly reduces the cost of manufacture. The structure also has the advantage that it can readily be made to accommodate impellers ofdiflerent width. If.the impeller is to be narrower than standard, then abutting ends of the respective sections can be turned down bythe necessary amoun t. On the other hand, if the impeller is tobe made wider, then the patterns can be built up by means of filling strips to add the necessary width to thecasing'parts, this being a comparatively simple and inexpensive matter.

In comparing an intermediate section with the two and sections, it will be noted that (ieferring to Fig. 1) the walls and passages on the right-hand side of diaphragm 56 are substantial] a duplicate of the wallsand assa s of tie discharge end section,

and t iatrt ose on the left-hand side are substantially a duplicate of those of the admission end section. It is due to this arrangement that a machine of an number of stages may be built up from t c three types of standard casing sections.

A further advantage of my improved structure is that with the casing sectibns built as shown, all machining can be .done on a boring mill with one setting. Furthermore, there are no arts that require machiningthat have to reached inside of the castings themselves.

It is also to be noted that in ever instance the fluid to .be pum ed is fed ra ially lers and entirely around the same, no circulating of fluid around the edges'of the iinfiellersbeing required inorder to obtain t e complete peripheral admission desired. This results from the spaced radial arrangement of the various web members which form passages leading radially to the edges of the im peller, and the admission openings which enter near the outer end of each radial pas sage. It has the advantage that the angle of the entrance ends of the impeller vanes can be designed to give much more ellicient operation since they can be made to feed the fluid to be pumped evenly to the impeller vanes.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represe t the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

hat I claim as ncw and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. A centrifugal compressor comprising coniplemcntary sections having walls which form between them an impeller chamber, walls forming an annular chamber on each side of the impeller chamber from which fluid is tcd to the opposite sides ol the inipeller through an angle of 360", walls forming two concentric annular passages which surround the chambers, ducts connecting the outer one with the annular chamber on one side of the impeller, the inner one forming a discharge chamber for the impeller, and an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit connected with the compressor.

2. A centrifugal compressor comprising an admission end section, a discharge end section, and one or more intermediate sections. said sections having walls which form impeller chambers between them. and other walls which form an annular chamber on each side of each impcllcr chamber and two surrounding concentric passages, spaced ducts connecting the outer passage with an annular chamber on one side of an impeller chamber, the inner passage serving as a discharge chamber for the impeller, and inlet and discharge conduits connected with the cnd sections.

3. A centrifugal compressor comprising an admission end section, a discharge end scction. and one or more intermediate seclions. cach of said intermediate sections comprising a diaphragm. walls on one side of the diaphragm which are a duplicate of a part of the admission end section, walls 0n the other side of the (liaph 'agm which are an admission end section, a discharge end section, and one ormore intermediate sections. said sections having walls which form impeller chambers, one of such walls being a part of each end section and the remaining walls being part of the intermediate section or sections, said sections also con'iprising walls which form annular chambers on each side of the impeller chambers, radial webs in the last named chambers for directing the fluid to be pumped to the cut ance edges of the impellers. walls forming two concentric annular passages surroumling each impeller chamber. and ducts connecting the outer passage to the annular chamber on one side of an impeller. the other annular passage acting as a discharge chamber for such impcller.

A centrifugal compressor comprising an admission end section, a discharge end section. and on: or more intermediate sections. said sections having walls which form impeller chambers, one of such walls being a part of each section and the remaining walls being part of the intermediate section or sections, said sections also comprising walls which form annular chambers on each side of the impeller chambers. radial webs in the last named chambers for directing the fluid to be pumped to the entrance edges of the impellers, walls forming two concentric annular passages surrounding each impeller chamber. ducts connecting the outer passage to the annular chamber on one side oi an impeller. the othe' annular passage acting as a discharge chamber for such impeller. a shaft. and impellers on the shaft located in the impeller chambers, the plane of division between the respective casing sections extending centrally through said impellers and at right angles to the shaft.

in witncss whereof. I have hereunto set mv hand this 12th day of Mav. 1916.

' Louis 0. LoicwuNs'rEIN. 

